Sardi J, Chavez-Yenter A, Wendell LC, Sasson JP, Wood MJ. Acute abducens nerve palsy from a complex retro-odontoid pseudotumor with a protrusion: A case report.
Radiol Case Rep 2024;
19:326-329. [PMID:
38028298 PMCID:
PMC10661563 DOI:
10.1016/j.radcr.2023.10.019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Retro-ondontoid pseudotumors represent soft tissue proliferation surrounding the transverse ligament of the atlas, which most commonly results in cervical neck pain or myelopathy due to impingement upon the cervicomedullary junction. The causes of retro-odontoid pseudotumor formation are varied and include metabolic, inflammatory, degenerative, and post-traumatic etiologies. To the best of our knowledge, an abducens nerve palsy as a result of a complex retro-odontoid pseudotumor has never been reported. We discuss a case of a 90-year-old woman who presents with acute lateral gaze palsy with multimodality imaging demonstrating a retro-odontoid pseudotumor with an unusual protrusion which courses superolaterally to the level of the pons and compresses the abducens nerve root entry zone.
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